Delia D'Ambra

Their father and mother divorced when they were kids, and after that, the brothers moved frequently with their dad. Of the two of them, James was reportedly the more confident brother who was physically taller and I think just viewed as the leader of the pair. More than a decade before this crime, their dad had moved them to Idaho to mine gold and silver with the goal of getting rich.

Their father and mother divorced when they were kids, and after that, the brothers moved frequently with their dad. Of the two of them, James was reportedly the more confident brother who was physically taller and I think just viewed as the leader of the pair. More than a decade before this crime, their dad had moved them to Idaho to mine gold and silver with the goal of getting rich.

But that endeavor fizzled out with poor results after about five years. And when the brothers were in their late teens and early 20s, their father decided to leave Idaho entirely, but James and Joseph continued living there. They found work at a cedar mill, and Joseph even ended up getting married and starting a family of his own.

But that endeavor fizzled out with poor results after about five years. And when the brothers were in their late teens and early 20s, their father decided to leave Idaho entirely, but James and Joseph continued living there. They found work at a cedar mill, and Joseph even ended up getting married and starting a family of his own.

By the time the year 1980 rolled around, though, both men had fallen on hard times financially. During that time, they struck up a friendship with a woman named Gloria White, who owned a large cabin in the Katka Mountain area of Idaho, which is about an hour and a half northeast of Sandpoint.

By the time the year 1980 rolled around, though, both men had fallen on hard times financially. During that time, they struck up a friendship with a woman named Gloria White, who owned a large cabin in the Katka Mountain area of Idaho, which is about an hour and a half northeast of Sandpoint.

Gloria had a tendency to befriend and shelter folks who had criminal pasts or who needed to catch a break in life. The Pratt brothers fit the latter description, so at one point they'd ask Gloria for a loan. But instead of providing them with cash, she introduced them to another guy who was staying at her house named Jim. Jim, as it turns out, though, was not that guy's real name.

Gloria had a tendency to befriend and shelter folks who had criminal pasts or who needed to catch a break in life. The Pratt brothers fit the latter description, so at one point they'd ask Gloria for a loan. But instead of providing them with cash, she introduced them to another guy who was staying at her house named Jim. Jim, as it turns out, though, was not that guy's real name.

His true identity was Christopher Boyce, who was, wait for it, the son of an FBI agent who was a convicted spy on the run from federal authorities. I know, this part of the story is wild, like I said. In 1977, Christopher was convicted of espionage for selling satellite technology secrets from the CIA to the Soviet Union.

His true identity was Christopher Boyce, who was, wait for it, the son of an FBI agent who was a convicted spy on the run from federal authorities. I know, this part of the story is wild, like I said. In 1977, Christopher was convicted of espionage for selling satellite technology secrets from the CIA to the Soviet Union.

For that crime, he was sentenced to 40 years in a California federal prison, but escaped about three years later in 1980. During his short time behind bars, though, Christopher had picked up a few tips from other inmates on how to successfully rob banks. So when he escaped, he went straight to committing that kind of crime.

For that crime, he was sentenced to 40 years in a California federal prison, but escaped about three years later in 1980. During his short time behind bars, though, Christopher had picked up a few tips from other inmates on how to successfully rob banks. So when he escaped, he went straight to committing that kind of crime.

Along the way, he met and enlisted James and Joseph and one of their other brothers named Kendall Pratt to help him rob about six banks in Idaho, Washington, and Montana. According to news coverage and court documents, the Pratts usually acted as Christopher's getaway driver.

Along the way, he met and enlisted James and Joseph and one of their other brothers named Kendall Pratt to help him rob about six banks in Idaho, Washington, and Montana. According to news coverage and court documents, the Pratts usually acted as Christopher's getaway driver.

By 1981, though, the men's arrangement had soured because James had started to suspect that Christopher wasn't giving him and his brothers their fair share of the spoils from the bank robbery jobs. So infighting within the group resulted in a fallout between the Pratts and Christopher, one that would eventually come back to bite Christopher big time.

By 1981, though, the men's arrangement had soured because James had started to suspect that Christopher wasn't giving him and his brothers their fair share of the spoils from the bank robbery jobs. So infighting within the group resulted in a fallout between the Pratts and Christopher, one that would eventually come back to bite Christopher big time.

In the summer of 1981, fresh off the brother split with Christopher, James was reading some newspaper articles and learned that the US Marshals were offering a $15,000 reward for Christopher's capture. James and Joseph used that information to their advantage and became paid government informants, eventually leading investigators to Christopher.

In the summer of 1981, fresh off the brother split with Christopher, James was reading some newspaper articles and learned that the US Marshals were offering a $15,000 reward for Christopher's capture. James and Joseph used that information to their advantage and became paid government informants, eventually leading investigators to Christopher.

On August 21, 1981, he was apprehended in Washington state. In an exchange for their cooperation, the Pratts were given immunity from prosecution for the bank robberies. And at least one of them pocketed the reward money for helping the U.S. Marshals catch Christopher.

On August 21, 1981, he was apprehended in Washington state. In an exchange for their cooperation, the Pratts were given immunity from prosecution for the bank robberies. And at least one of them pocketed the reward money for helping the U.S. Marshals catch Christopher.